Before we explore the practical question of participation, which so many groups and institutions including global leaders agree is an essential ingredient for poverty reduction, let’s philosophise a little. What I am about to share with you is the philosophical basis upon which our communities are built on. What I am hoping will become clear is that what we are told is sphere is actually cube.
I called Taciona from Fase, a large Brazilian NGO that works with many communities across the country. Taciona is a technician in the team dealing with sanitation and works for the day everyone in Brazil enjoys equal and adequate access to social services. I will meet her next week, but in the mean time she leaves me a package at Fase’s front desk with some reading material. At first I wonder why I am being put through such a high level of concentration needed to follow this philosophical train of thought. But soon it becomes obvious as the bigger picture appears to me like a premonition, and bang, it’s all worth it. So here goes, in English.
Democracy without participation by all its citizens is not democracy at all. Everyone must have equal right to participate in the system of governance for it to qualify as democracy. Equal right to participate is not enough though, it is argued. What is needed is equal access to the ‘abilities, resources and opportunities’ necessary to participate. This makes sense. If the ballot is on the moon, and everyone has the right to vote as long as they turn up, in practice only the astronauts will have a say. Once the voters are at the ballots, they must have the abilities and information to weigh up the alternatives.
Equal rights and abilities to participate in the system of governance is what the principles of Autonomy and self-determination are based on. It is argued that such a ‘just system’ of governance would manage public politics in a way that would best meet the demands of its people.
In a country where huge inequalities exist, it is logical to question whether a just system of governance, in other words democracy, really exists. To quote the words of Held (1997:69) “Is a system of political, economic and social power that generates systematic asymmetries of opportunity compatible with the principle of autonomy?” In other words, what has been referred to as sphere might actually be cube.
It is widely agreed that inequality and exclusion of the masses can only be tackled if those excluded from the system of governance are allowed back in, so that they can stand up for themselves and demand the rights they have been denied. They say ‘if you don’t ask you don’t get’. But if there is no way of asking, you can pretty well bet you won’t get anything at all. socratise
This is where civil society comes in. “Civil society is made up of public spirited citizens, who believe in equal political relations by everyone and in a social structure based on trust and collaboration”[1]. Well at least that’s how one influential scholar defines civil society. And from the people I have met so far in several organisations, albeit a narrow cross-section of an enormous world that constitutes civil society, this definition certainly seems to capture the spirit I have been exposed to.
After extensive study of the political process in Italy, Putman concludes that the higher the level of participation by civil society in the process of governance, the more likely the demands of society will be met.
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